Prescription costs soar in Scotland

30th September 2009

New figures show that prescriptions are now costing the NHS in Scotland £1.07 billion a year.

That breaks down to £196.20 for every person registered with a doctor, with higher production costs and an increased volume of prescriptions being issued as the main cause for the rise. The data from the NHS statistical service ISD Scotland showed that aspirin was the most prescribed drug. The Scottish government is currently phasing out prescription charges, with a view to abolishing them completely by 2011.